Agricultural Research Management Information System

Home
Research Summary
Search
About Us
- ARMIS
- Brochure
Contact Us
Report
User Request
Data Input
Help
- Operation Manual
  - PDF
  - Video
- Program Area & Commodity
We have reached 37600 number of research entries at this moment.

- Logout

Research Detail

Home
Research
Detail

Management Practices and Economic Potentials of Growing Lotkon at Shibpur

M. R. Islam
Senior Scientific Officer
On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M. Asaduzzaman
Scientific Officer
On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

M. A. Hoasain
Scientific Officer
On-Farm Research Division, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A study was carried out at Shibpur MLT site, Narsingdi in December '02 to know the yield and economic potentials of lotkon under farmer's management practices. Data were collected from fifty lotkon growing farmers from six villages Narsingdi district. On an average, farmers of this area had been growing lotkon for 14 years. Average area was 0.45 ha with 113 plants per farm. Most of the farmers (68%) planted lotkon under the shade of jackfruit trees while some (22%) planted lotkon under both mango and jackfruit. June-July is the optimum time for planting saplings. Farmer's didn't apply any fertilizer or manure in the pit before planting. Average fruit yield was recorded 60 kg/plant while the mean highest-ever fruit yield was 96 kg/plant. On an average, Tk.1500 could be earned from a single tree while gross margin per hectare was TK. 342250 against total cost of production TK.14992/ ha. Remarkably high benefit-cost ratio (22.83) indicated that lotkon was a highly profitable crop. Farmers mentioned die back, flower and fruit drop and insect-pests as major problems in growing lotkon. However, development of appropriate practices, identification of insect-pests and diseases, determination and improvement of shelf life, preparation of processed food items, marketing channel are some of the important research and development issues identified. In a nutshell, lotkon is a highly potential crop from both agronomic and economic point of view.

Keywords: Farmers' practice, Growing lotkon

Location: On-Farm Research Division (OFRD) of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Shibpur, Narsingdi

Start Date: 00-12-2002

End Date: 00-01-2003

Program Area: Socio-economic and Policy

Commodity: Latkan

Objectives:

1. To know the farmers' management practices of growing lotkon at Shibpur,

2. To assess present yield and economic potential of lotkon

3. To know socio-economic aspects of growing lotkon

4. To identify problems associated with lotkon cultivation

5. To identify researchable issues for the development of lotkon

Methodology:

The study was carried out at Multi-location Testing (MLT) site under On-Farm Research Division (OFRD) of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Shibpur, Narsingdi during December 2002 to January 2003. Shibpur upazila under Narsingdi district was selected purposively as the farmers of this area grew lotkon extensively. The study area included six villages namely, Askitala, Joynagar, Ashtaani, Gilaber of Joynagar Union and the villages Murgiber and Naukaghata of Josohar Union under Shibpur Upuzila. A total of 232 lotkon growing farm families (of the six villages mentioned above) constituted population of the study. However, data were collected from randomly selected 50 lotkon growing farmers. A group of researchers conducted farmers' interview to collect data using pre-tested interview schedule. After verification and compilation, data were analyzed statistically.

Source of Information: Bangladesh J. Train. and Dev., Vol. 18(1&2), 2005: 107-114 ; ISSN 1013-0306

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

It is evident from the findings that farmers are growing lotkon over a long period of time mostly as mixed/inter crop with jackfruit and mango. They are growing only local variety of the crop. In most cases farmers do not take any care of the plants and apply no fertilizers, manures or pesticides. Still yield and economic potentials of lotkon was found highly encouraging. There is a vast scope to explore and exploit potentiality of the crop. Development of appropriate agronomic practices including planting technique, determining appropriate ratio of male and female plants, fertilizer management, intercultural operations, management of inter/mixed crops etc. along with insect-pest management and post-harvest technologies can greatly increase yield and economic potentiality of the crop. Higher price and export value of the crop further emphasized to draw attention to take care of it at the moment. Cultivation of lotkon may be extended all over the Modhupur Tract and other parts of the country having identical land and soil. Adaptability to variable land and soil should be tested to identify more area for its extrapolation.

Knowledge Management: Journal